Blaring Richmond sirens were false alarm

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, April 5, 2006

(04-05) 12:41 PDT RICHMOND -- Hazardous materials sirens blared across Richmond for about 16 minutes this morning when the monthly test of the hazmat alert system malfunctioned and couldn't be turned off.

The sirens were a false alarm, and residents in the marina area of Richmond and Point Richmond, where the sirens were sounding, were never in any danger, said Steve Morioka, a hazardous materials specialist with Contra Costa County Health Services.

The sirens went off at 11 a.m. for regular testing, and they didn't go off until the batteries ran out, Morioka said. In a real warning, the sirens would sound for about 3 minutes, then pause to recharge the batteries before going off again, he said.